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Donphan has access to Knock Off. This is significant in the fact that it completely ruins things like Trevenant and Gliscor on switch in, and even Ghost types find themselves hard to switch in especially since Assault Vest Donphan stands as a potent check to Aegislash, mixed or not. Spinning Excadrill is completely helpless against things like Gourgeist and Trevenant, two prominent defensive spinblockers in standard. It can only beat them with either Sub/Swords Dance, Lum Berry (lel), or a lucky Iron Head flinch or Shadow Claw crit. Since Rock Slide is ever popular for Talonflame, Excadrill can really only afford to run Rapid Spin + 3 attacks for valuable coverage, but no Swords Dance means it doesn't hit that hard either. It hits hard, but it loses to many things with no SD. Oh, weaknesses to Mach Punch and Vaccum Wave matter as well, and while Steel is a good defensive typing is got nerfed hard in this gen and common weaknesses to Earthquake/Scald/Fire Blast/Close Combat don't do it any particular favours as a defensive spinblocker. Donphan has access to a far better offensive movepool (like it even needs it anyways) and priority Ice Shard, and while it's vulnerable to Toxic and lacks resists, lacking weaknesses, especially common ones, are arguably much more valuable defensive wise.

While Excadrill has superior special bulk, the physical bulk and lack of weaknesses to common physical moves (aka Ground and Fighting moves) make it better of a defensive spinner in general. Excadrill is an offensive spinner with the abililty to beat common spinblockers and Levitate users depending on set, but Donphan is more of a physically defensive tank spinner which has Sturdy, meaning that it will always live a hit, unlike Excadrill (inb4 Sash). Saying that Excadrill outclasses Donphan is every way is absolutely ridiculous seeing that the spinners run two different ways.